The Gift of Discomfort
“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”
The vast majority of us have been raised to “be comfortable.” Previous generations worked diligently to make comfort a possibility. We have comfort through medical advancements. Even seventy years ago, cancer was a death sentence. Other physical ailments were extremely uncomfortable, with little hope of relief. With new medical discoveries, we can now keep discomfort at bay in ways previously unknown.
Computer technology has transformed our comfort level in just the last few years. I want to hear a rare classical piece of music; all I have to do is grab my phone and play it. No one needs to go to the store. I can have groceries, books, clothing, or just about anything else delivered to my door, without the discomfort of driving or even interacting with other humans.
Niklas Goke, in his article, “4 Reasons You Don’t Have the Life You Want,” correctly points out, “If you’re not willing to eat a carrot, you’ll never get used to a better diet. If you’re not willing to do one pushup, you’ll never feel strong. If you’re not willing to ask for a date, you’ll never have a loving relationship.” Goke continues, “Most of all, if you’re not willing to feel uncomfortable, you’ll never be happy — because discomfort is part of the formula for happiness.”
We do not need to feel blissfully comfortable every minute. When comfort is our primary goal, we miss out on life's joys. God continually took people out of their comfort zones so each could experience a more fulfilling life. Abram and Sarai were an older, wealthy, childless couple, and God promised them a more fulfilling life if they left their comfort and set out on a journey under God’s leading. We know their lives were fulfilled because they left their comfort and ventured out in faith. When have you avoided discomfort in the past? Are there moments when your avoidance negatively affected your life? Where is the need for comfort keeping you from experiencing divine joy and meaning? Answer those questions, and you will begin your journey of inner strength and spiritual growth.
